Paper

Does the fly matter? The CRACKPOT study in evidence based trout fishing

BMJ 1998; 317 doi: 10.1136/bmj.317.7174.1678 (Published 19 December 1998)
Cite this as: BMJ 1998;317:1678
  1. B J Britton, consultant surgeona,
  2. J Grimley Evans (john.grimleyevans{at}geratology.oxford.ac.uk), professorb,
  3. J M Potter, emeritus consultant neurosurgeon on behalf of the Collaborative Randomised And Controlled Kennet Piscatorial Options Trial (CRACKPOT) Investigators.c
  1. John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU
  2. Department of Clinical Geratology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford OX2 6HE
  3. Wadham College, Oxford OX1 3PN
  1. Correspondence to: Professor Grimley Evans

    Abstract

    Objective: To investigate the importance of the type of dry fly (artificial floating fly) in catching trout (brown and rainbow) in an English chalkstream.

    Setting: River Kennet, Berkshire.

    Design: Five anglers on five separate occasions spent five hours using a randomly allocated fly from a sample of five types.

    Participants: Five anglers of considerable but varying experience, determination, and opinion.

    Main outcome measures: Number, weight, and species of trout caught.

    Results: One fly (Black Gnat) performed significantly worse than the others. The fly most successful in catching brown trout was the Cinnamon Sedge.

    Conclusion: The possible prolongation of doctors' leisure time consequent on the use of unproductive trout flies has resource implications for the NHS. Urgent funding of a definitive, large multiriver trial is needed.

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